Press Release

CONCORD - After signing into law today HB 1 and HB 2, enacting the state's operating budget for fiscal years 2014 and 2015, Governor Maggie Hassan issued the following statement:

"With the bipartisan, fiscally responsible balanced budget that I have now signed into law, we have begun to reverse many of the deep cuts made in the last biennium and set the foundation for a more innovative economic future.

"The budget invests in higher education, improves technical assistance to businesses, and strengthens economic development efforts in order to support the business community's work to create good jobs that can sustain a strong middle class. And it makes significant progress on the priorities that are critical for improving the health and wellbeing of our people and communities, helping to keep New Hampshire one of the safest, healthiest and most livable states in the nation.

"Like all budgets, this plan required compromise and difficult decisions. But the overwhelming, bipartisan support for the priorities in this budget – job creation, public safety, education, caring for our most vulnerable citizens, and preserving our natural resources – demonstrates that our shared values as Granite Staters are far more significant than our differences.

"Both the House and Senate repeatedly showed a willingness to rise above ideology and listen to the people they represent in order to reach constructive compromises, and I thank legislators for their hard work.

"With our budget now in place, we have been able to make true and meaningful progress on the priorities that matter to the people of New Hampshire. We must continue working together in the spirit of bipartisanship to keep our state moving forward toward a stronger, more innovative economic future."

*Below is a photo of Governor Hassan signing HB 1. Two pens were used for the signing, one will be given to lead Senate budget negotiator Senator Chuck Morse and one will be given to lead House budget negotiator Representative Mary Jane Wallner.*